If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

Posted on Nov 19th, 2009 by

Geo

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for November 19, 2009:

After some thought, reflection and introspection, I come to realize that I am pretty much where I want to be, for now. More importantly, I am where I need to be as well.

There are clearly some lessons here that I have yet to learn, as there is still some uncomfortable unknown in my life. I know that avoiding that notion, moving or just going away won't assuage that feeling or that need.

I recall my father's words and advice nearly 40 years ago when my wanderlust was just manifesting itself in long bicycle tours across country, backpacking trips along the spine of the country and canoe trips that would eat up a month or two. He remarked to me as I prepared for another trek, that I could spend the rest of my life and not see all of St. Croix county. Of course, the wisdom of this didn't sink in until years later.

Thoreau commented that he had travelled a great deal, in Concord.

So, as my world changes from one of green fields and blue skies to white meadows and near black spruces, I have to admit, that the world I want for me right now lies out my back door.

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Tagged with: Q&R, travel, location, world, visits

How did you get to where you are now?

Posted on Nov 9th, 2009 by

Geo

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for November 09, 2009:

The easy answer is that I ended up here after I answered an ad in Velo News. An Aspen bike shop was looking for a mechanic, I happened to be a mechanic. However, I was also out of work from my paying job as a construction worker.

I had been out of work for some months, picking up odd jobs here and there, but nothing that lasted more than a week or too. I had dreamed of living in Aspen for some time, having visited to rock climb or bicycle race in the Rocky Mountains over the years. As if on cue, my bluff was called and here was not only a chance to live and work in Aspen, but it was working in a field that I loved and felt that I was good at, too.

I answered the ad.

A week or so later, I received a phone call from the bike shop's owner and he said he wanted to meet with me to discuss the position. Sounded good.

In the meantime, a son of the shop's owner won an Olympic gold medal in the bicycle road race, so a job at this particular shop had just jumped a bit in stature, or at least in my mind it did.

However, the owner and I did not get along at all and I couldn't wait for the summer to end to be free of that hated place. I looked at moving back to the Midwest, Boulder, anywhere but here. My dream of racing, climbing and hiking in the mountains had been ruined, I thought, by a person who held power over me, only because I gave that power to him.

And that started a long, troubled, strife filled life that burned through two marriages, one home, two different jobs, friends and a chunk of my family. Culminating with a six week stay outside of Wickenburg, Arizona trying to figure out just what in the world happened to me, who was I and where was I.

I didn't so much find out who I was as much as I found out who I was not.

I learned that I should start learning.

Realizing that I didn't know much, much less knowing it all, was and is humbling.

I found, late in life, that I could finally share what I see and feel when I am in the heart of my wilderness, my mountains.

Embracing that an apartment that is a tad under 500 square feet can be a castle, especially when the snow is blowing sideways outside.

Life can be a slow release from ignorance, but should still be delved into with all my efforts anyway.

So, that's how I ended up here today. I will be in a different place tomorrow, with new memories and stories, and hopefully, I will have learned new things, too.

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Tagged with: Q&R, journey, life, reflections, path

Water Wild, Passion Red

Posted on Oct 25th, 2009 by

Geo

You were open,

Raw passion red.

Say with music

why water wild

the only rhythm

In young joy

Too surreal.

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River in Fall

Posted on Oct 24th, 2009 by

Geo

In seasonal rain

along a nameless river

Fear, too, has no name.

- Basho

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What confuses you?

Posted on Oct 16th, 2009 by

Geo

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 14, 2009:

What has confused me for as long as I can remember is our (humanity's) indifference and outright cruelty that it can inflict on the rest of the world.

War, famine, disease, economic plundering, natural resource depletion, need I go on?

In my line of work I occasionally see and confront this cruelty front and center. Amazing.

Other times I see the complete aplomb that others have when the steal, either by force or sophistication. They only want "more". Even though, if I were to ask them to their face, "How much is enough? What are you doing with these riches to help others?" they would have no answer.

A real estate broker here in Aspen sold a home for $46 million. Imagine that 7% commission, then imagine that same broker complaining that business is down and he doesn't know what he's going to do.

That's right, baffling, isn't it?

How much is enough?

A 6 month child shows up in our emergency room and x-rays show broken ribs, and signs of previous broken ribs, all in his too short little life.

Imagine the 18 year-old father saying, "He wouldn't stop crying", as if this were some sort of excuse, permission as it were to wound this child.

Do you realize this is a defenseless child incapable of taking care of even it's most basic of needs?

I haven't been working lately due to some issues, and it's been rather nice to not have to deal with the drunks, the spouse beaters, drug addicts, alcoholics, car wrecks, injuries, animals shot just for some part of their body, then dumped and on and on.

It's nice to not have to deal with those, but I also know in my heart of hearts that these things didn't go away just because I am not there. As I hike along my silent trails in the valleys and up on the mountains, all these things and more are happening every day, every hour, every second.

So what to do to deal with this confusion?

Some time ago I wrote that I can't save everyone, but I save those that I can, and so, if I save you, you save me. I can't do it all, so I do what I can.

The interesting thing about not being at work and being able to spend significant time with myself is the inward looking that can occur during these long walks or just long evenings with myself on the couch letting my mind wander to where it wants.

Wonderful questions come in and announce their presence like, "Am I where I need to be right now?"

I wonder if my line of work is doing the best that I can with what I have at this stage of my life, or do I need to pack it in and bet it all on something else. Hmmmmm.

As the king of Siam said to Anna, "'Tis a puzzlement!"

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Tagged with: Q&R, confusion, bewilderment, understanding

Beauty I've Always Believed......

Posted on Oct 9th, 2009 by

Geo

A rainy and snowy gray day yesterday brought back to The Moody Blues as I strolled out wet streets, now littered with leaves as our cottonwoods and aspens prepare for a long winter's nap.

I am always struck by the lyrics and the voice of Justin Hayward, even these many years on, his pipes still can send a chill up my spine.

"Letters I've written, never meaning to send....."

"Just what the truth is, I can't say any more..."

So, taking a break from silly errands that I think are important, tracking down epoxy to try to fix Little Blue scooter, paying bills, lost in my thoughts. This is when music always seems to be running 'round in my head, and, depending on the mood, it may be bright, or a bit more on the dark and reflective side. Depending.

Perhaps a proper walk up the valley will shake these Blues.

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Who is the most intriguing person you've met recently?

Posted on Oct 5th, 2009 by

Geo

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 05, 2009:

I've been a bit housebound lately, but I have been out for my usual walks and hikes, yet not really meeting anyone. As always, I check in online with my friends and fellow members of a couple of social networking sites, too.

And this is what fascinates me.

1994 was my first computer with an Internet connection and it allowed me to start connecting with people from all over as the WWW expanded and sped up.

Through the wispy ethereal world of cyber space I have met many, many new friends and close acquaintances that I have never even met in person, a few I have actually spoken to on the phone, but we meet mostly online. Some of these friendships are going on several, if not many years, now.

And we are all tangled and woven into each other's lives, somehow. We care for one another and worry when there is some trouble or strife in our lives. All from afar.

And the world keeps spinning, spinning, weaving us all together in a rather tangled and messy fashion, yet at the same time, beautiful, too.

Which thread I'll follow today and where it will lead, I don't know. Surprise messages from old friends that I haven't heard from in almost a year poke up out of the blue, brightening my day with a message that I might be interested in the latest Speaking of Faith piece about Ojibway language from norther Minnesota where I was born.

I follow the thread, weave in and out and around other friends as we all tumble towards a distant spot. We touch one another in the warp and weft of impermanence aware that the threads will and do eventually turn thinner and more transparent as some disappear from our touch and drift off to places we don't know, can never know until it's our turn.

So, as I take my turn spinning along, the most intriguing person I have met will probably be the next person I meet!

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Tagged with: Q&R, strangers, friends, surprises

Repeat as Neccessary

Posted on Oct 3rd, 2009 by

Geo

Keep going, keep trying, keep learning, keep striving, listen to your supporters, ignore and laugh at your detractors, find who your true friends are, look to your inner self, your inner passion and unlock the door and set it all free.

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Peering

Posted on Oct 3rd, 2009 by

Geo

Just a quick note today.

A couple of days ago, as I am wont to do, I had walked too far into the back country in order to make it back before the sun bade me goodnight. No big deal, really. I do this all the time and as the seasons change, I am frequently caught out in the dark while strolling along the familiar trails.

I have passed a particular spot so many times I can't count them. Why I stopped this particular evening, I have no idea why. Then, I thought for a moment or two about how I had never looked over the edge and down into the creek bed. The colors were glowing red and a bit of yellow catching some faint light from somewhere.

Now, cameras can actually "see" in the dark far better than our eyes can, so, I thought, what the heck?! I set up the tripod as I knew this would be a long exposure, which let me get lost in the moments for a bit.

My carry-everywhere camera did it's job and found the image.

Packing up I made a mental note; Always remember to look over the edge, off the trail, up or down into the unfamiliar and see what new sights and mysteries might be found!

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What would be the hardest thing to change about yourself?

Posted on Sep 30th, 2009 by

Geo

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for September 30, 2009:

To stop looking all about me.... There is too much to see in every day life, and especially on my walks, or, "hikes" as I like to call them!

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Tagged with: Q&R, self, change, personality

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If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

How did you get to where you are now?

Water Wild, Passion Red

River in Fall

What confuses you?

Beauty I've Always Believed......

Who is the most intriguing person you've met recently?

Repeat as Neccessary

Peering

What would be the hardest thing to change about yourself?

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